DEFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES

• US 20140302766A1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kysor Warren Epta Us Corporation (EPTA SPA)
• Original Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLC (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sahu, Kapil Das, Schuetter, Michael J., Shinde, Darshan U.
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/284
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0447 with air curtains
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0469 Details, e.g. night covers

Abstract

Display cases may include deflectors and fans. The deflectors may alter air currents generated by fans to provide an air current to display portions of the display case. In some implementations, the altered air current may have a first portion with a velocity that is greater than a velocity of a second portion, where the first portion is closer to a display portion of the display case.

Claims

1. A display case comprising:

a deflector comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface opposed to the first surface;

a first member; and

a second member, wherein the first surface proximate the second surface is disposed approximately 149 degrees to approximately 153 degrees from the first surface proximate the first member; and

a fan adapted to generate a gas current directed at the second surface of the deflector.

2. The display case of claim 1 comprising a flow straightener coupled to the deflector.

3. The display case of claim 2 wherein the second surface proximate the second member is disposed approximately 9 degrees to approximately 13 degrees from a surface of the flow straightener.

4. The display case of claim 1 further comprising a display portion, wherein the gas current is altered by the deflector, and wherein a velocity of a first portion of the gas current is greater than a velocity of a second portion of the gas current, and wherein the first portion of the gas current is closer to the display portion than the second portion.

5. The display case of claim 4 wherein a velocity of a third portion of the gas current is at least one of less than or approximately equal to the velocity of the second portion of the gas current, wherein the third portion of the gas current is disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the gas current.

6. The display case of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a first dimension approximately 1.9 inches to approximately 2 inches high, and wherein the second member comprises a second dimension approximately 2.5 inches to approximately 2.9 inches high.

7. The display case of claim 1 wherein the second member further comprises a coupling portion, and wherein the coupling portion includes an approximately 90 degree recess to receive a flow straightener.

8. A display case comprising:

a flow straightener comprising;

a first end;

a second end; and

a reference position, wherein the reference position comprises a position comprising approximately 0.8 times the distance between the first end and the second end; and

a deflector comprising;

a first member comprising a first position proximate an end of the first member; and

a second member comprising a second position proximate an end of the second member;

wherein the first member and the second member are coupled proximate a third position;

wherein a distance from the third position of the deflector to the reference position of the flow straightener comprises a first distance, and wherein a distance from a first position of the deflector to the first end of the flow straightener comprises approximately 3.5 times the first distance; and

a fan adapted to generate a gas current directed at a surface of the deflector.

9. The display case of claim 8 wherein the flow straightener and the deflector are coupled proximate the second position of the deflector and proximate the second end of the flow straightener.

10. The display case of claim 8 further comprising a display portion, wherein a predetermined temperature range is maintained in the display portion of the display case using at least a portion of the gas current.

11. The display case of claim 8 further comprising a display portion, wherein the gas current is altered by the deflector, and wherein a velocity of a first portion of the gas current is greater than a velocity of a second portion of the gas current, and wherein the first portion of the gas current is closer to the display portion than the second portion.

12. The display case of claim 11 wherein a velocity of a third portion of the gas current is at least one of less than or approximately equal to a velocity of the second portion of the gas current, and wherein the third portion of the gas current is disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the gas current.

13. The display case of claim 8 wherein the first member comprises a first dimension approximately 1.9 inches to approximately 2 inches high, and wherein the second member comprises a second dimension approximately 2.5 to approximately 2.9 inches high.

14. The display case of claim 8 wherein the flow straightener comprises an aspect ratio of 8:

1.

15. A method for maintaining a temperature range in a display case, the method comprising:

generating an gas current in at first direction with at least one fan of a display case; and

altering the first direction of the gas current using at least a portion of a deflector of the display case such that a velocity of a first portion of the altered gas current is greater than a velocity of a second portion of the altered gas current, wherein the first portion of the altered gas current is closer to a display portion of the display case than the second portion of the altered gas current.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising maintaining a predetermined temperature range in the display portion of the display case using the altered gas current.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein an energy consumption to maintain the predetermined temperature range is reduced compared to an energy consumption to maintain the predetermined temperature range using the generated gas current without alteration by the deflector of the display case.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein altering the first direction of the gas current further comprises altering the first direction of the gas current such that a velocity of a third portion of the gas current is at least one of less than or approximately equal to the velocity of the second portion of the gas current, wherein the third portion of the gas current is disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the gas current.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising straightening the altered gas current.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing the altered gas current to the display portion of the display case.